Sacred Heart Lady Crusader basketball made history in the 2019-2020 season - their first Region Championship along with their first Elite Eight and Final Four appearance. In Jackson at “The Big House,” their historic run came to an end as they fell to Baldwyn 48-27, finishing 16-11 overall.

“I’m still proud of or kids. To go from 3-6 and then win our Region Championship, to the Final Four, it is a great accomplishment by a bunch of young kids. We are an extremely young team. Today, turnovers killed us. Our inability to score hurt us. I thought they did a good job defensively. They played a wide zone and it gave us problems, but we shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers,” said head coach Matt O’Keefe.

Sacred Heart started quickly in the opening minutes as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead with field goals from Kate Gallardo and Gracie Falla, then a corner three from Mallory Gilbertson. Baldwyn answered back with a run of their own as Lady Bearcat Amarie Anderson scored their first five points, along with a field goal from Kezia Hayes. Gracie Falla was sent to the line and she delivered with two free throws to break the 7-7 tie. Baldwyn would come out of the period with the lead, though, as Y’Yana Ragin hit a three at the buzzer to give the Lady Bearcats a 14-10 lead after the first period.

The second period featured fouls back-and-forth from both teams as they went to the free-throw line a combined eight times during the period. Baldwyn stretched their lead to double-digits during the period as Anderson nailed a three to give them a 23-11 lead midway through the second. Successful free-throw shots from Gallardo and Falla pulled the lead back to single-digits to keep the Lady Crusaders in it, 23-15. A buzzer-beater from lady Bearcat Emilee Hill gave Baldwyn a 27-18 lead as both teams went to their respective locker room areas.

Baldwyn extended their lead in the third period by outscoring Sacred Heart 14-4 as six different Lady Bearcats scored, including a three from Taitianna Beene. Falla and Gallardo were the only two Lady Crusaders to find the basket as both sank a field goal each.

Baldwyn finished things off in the final period, controlling the tempo of the game to slow down any comeback by the Lady Crusaders. Sacred Heart was held to xx points in the fourth period, with Gracie and Gabbie Falla scoring one bucket each, along with a free-throw basket from Gallardo. Baldwyn closed things out with Anderson finishing with a team-high 15 points.

“This team is very young and has a lot to look forward to in the next few years. Getting Avery Smith back next is a big deal [sidelined due to injury]. No one expected this team to make it this far. No one expected this team to win a Region Championship or get to the Final Four. Hats off to our kids, I’m proud of them even though we played poorly today,” said O’Keefe.

Scorers

Gracie Falla - 15 points

Kate Gallardo - 7 points

Mallory Gilbertson - 3 points

Gabrielle - Falla - 2 points